Tamperproof closure cap and sealed package

ABSTRACT

A closure cap for threaded containers is described which includes a tamperproofing means to indicate unauthorized tampering with or removal of the closure cap from the sealed container. The closure cap is of composite construction having a metal disc-like top fitted into a molded plastic ring or skirt. The plastic skirt includes container engaging threads positioned above a tear-off tamper indicating band. The tamper indicating band has integral molded pawl members which engage lugs or ratchet teeth on the container so that the tamperproofing strip must be removed before the closure cap can be turned off of the container. Should there be an unauthorized attempt to open the container, the tamperproofing strip will be torn off as the closure is turned on the container.

[ Oct. 21, 1975 1 1 TAMPERPROOF CLOSURE CAP AND SEALED PACKAGE [75] Inventor: Charles S. Ochs, Lancaster, Ohio [73] Assignee: Anchor Hocking Corporation,

Lancaster, Ohio 22 Filed: Sept. 14, 1973 211 App]. No.: 397,439

646,323 9/1962 Italy 215/330 Primary Examiner-William 1. Price Assistant Examiner-R. E. Hart Attorney, Agent, or Firm-I-Iolland, Armstrong, Wilkie & Previto [57] ABSTRACT A closure cap for threaded containers is described which includes a tamperproofing means to indicate unauthorized tampering with or removal of the closure cap from the sealed container. The closure cap is of composite construction having a metal disc-like top fitted into a molded plastic ring or skirt. The plastic skirt includes container engaging threads positioned above a tear-off tamper indicatingband. The tamper indicating band has integral molded pawl members which engage lugs or ratchet teeth on the container so that the tamperproofing strip must be removed before the closure cap can be turned off of the container. Should there be an unauthorized attempt to open the container, the tamperproofing strip will be torn off as the closure is turned on the container.

6 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures US. Patent 0a. 21, 1975 Sheet 1 of 2 3,913,772

TAMPERPROOF CLOSURE CAP AND SEALED PACKAGE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improved tamperproof closure cap with a tamper indicating band and more particularly to an improved tamperproof cap which may be used for a hermetic seal and where the tamper indication is obtained before the hermetic seal is broken.

There are a variety of different tamperproof closure caps now on the market including caps having a tearoff band formed on the cap which must be removed before cap removal or which is visably damaged as soon as the cap is turned off. Such caps have been used for beverages packed under pressure as well as for a variety of other products which have their head space at atmospheric pressure. These prior caps include metal caps with a tear-off band and a number of plastic caps including integrally molded tear-off bands. Neither of these present designs are particularly well suited for, use with vacuum seals since it is possible to rotate the caps of these designs a sufficient amount to destroy the vac-, uum seal before the tamper indicating action occurs.

The closure cap of the present invention overcomes this drawback and it also provides a cap for use on molded glass containers having an easily formed glass finish. The cap also minimizes sealing. problems by being easily hoppered, fed to sealing machines, and applied and turned to its fully sealed position. Additionally, a cap is provided which combines these advantages with a capacity for automatic package checking including dud detection.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved tamperproof cap.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved tamperproof cap for use on a glass finish which requires no sharp corners or complex radial projections.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tamperproof closure which is easily hoppered and fed and sealed on containers using high speed automatic sealing machinery.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved tamperproof closure cap where tamper indication results prior to the loss of a vacuum seal.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved tamperproof closure cap having an insect infestation resistant skirt.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tamperproof closure cap for a vacuum sealed package for use with automatic dud detectors.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawing forming a part of the specification, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the improved sealed package.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 1 illustrating a tamperproofing strip partially removed.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the preferred embodiment of the closure cap.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the container glass finish illustrating the positions of the cap engaging lugs.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are vertical sectional views illustrating two positions of the closure cap during cap application and sealing.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of the sealed package taken along line 77 on FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view of the sealed package with the tamperproofing strip removed.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view illustrating the details of the preferred embodiment of the cap pawl and the cooperating container lug.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view of the pawl and lug taken along line 10-10 on FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The closure cap of the present invention which will now be described in detail with reference to the figures provides the tamperproof closure cap for application to glass containers and which is particularly adapted for use with hermetically sealed glass containers. A glass finish and a cooperating plastic cap skirt are provided to give the tamper indicating action through the use of a tear strip and a separate disc-shaped cover is provided on the cap for forming the hermetic seal in such a way that the tamper indication is operative before the hermetic seal is destroyed. This desirable result has not been available in prior tamperproofing designs where a significant amount of cap rotation is possible before the tamper indication is given. Such partial rotation before tamper indication would not be objectionable in many packages but cannot be tolerated in hermetically sealed packages, such as food packages, where the loss of vacuum would result in damage to the packaged product.

The preferred closure cap 1 of this invention includes a separate metal disc or cover 2 which is preferably fonned of metal such as tin plate or aluminum. The cover 2 includes a central stacking panel 3 and a raised dud detection button 4 if desired. The cover 2 is formed with a downwardly facing channel 5 and an inwardly curled edge 6 for receiving a suitable plastisol or other gasket 7. The cover 2 is fitted into the upper portion of a plastic ring 8 having container engaging threads 9 molded on its inner surface and having a flange-like marginal annular cover 10. An annular groove 11 just beneath the ring cover 10 is formed in the plastic ring 8 for receiving the outer edge 5 of the cap cover 2. A tamper indicating tear-off band 12 is molded as an integral lower portion of the cap skirt 13 below the container engaging threads 9. This band 12 is connected to adjacent portions of the skirt by a frangible coupling such as a thin connecting web 14 which may be readily torn when the band 12 is removed from the cap 1 by the users gripping the tear-off tab 15 formed on the end of the band 12 and tearing the band 12 from the remainder of the cap skirt 13.

As seen in FIGS. 3, 5 and 9, the tear-off band 12 comprises an annular outer section 15 having its upper portion attached to the remainder of the cap skirt at 14 and having a number of resilient integral, radially inwardly projecting fins or pawls 17 formed therein. These pawls 17, as illustrated in detail in FIGS. 9 and 10, are proportioned to spring inwardly to engage a flat forward edge 18 of a container lug 19 when a fully sealed cap 1 is turned off of a sealed container 1. The preferred container 20 finish, as seen in FIG. 4 and in FIGS. 5 through 8, has a radially outwardly projecting and continuous transfer head 21 extending completely around the container rim 22.1mmediately beneath this annular transfer bead 21, a number of the spaced pawl 17 engaging lugs 19 are formed in the glass finish which are shaped as seen in FIGS. 9 and 10 to have the flat radially projecting pawl engaging surfaces 18 and to have inclined rear surfaces 24 for facilitating cap application.

In a preferred embodiment of the container 20, four lugs 19 are provided for action with eight cap pawls 17 located on the tear-off band 12. No matter what position the sealed cap 1 has on the container, it is clear that a tear-off band 12 destroying action would occur after no more than a 45 reverse turn of the closure cap 1. Thus, after a reverse or removal motion of 45 or less, the cap 1 is in the position illustrated in FIG. 10 where the pawl 17 prevents further reverse movement of the cap 1 without a destruction of or an intentional removal of the tear-off band 12. Other spacing arrangements of lugs and pawls can be used to get appropriate control of the reverse turning for differing fractions of cap revolutions.

The retention of a vacuum in the sealed package during the above described backing off of the closure cap 1 is assured since this slight rotation of the plastic cap skirt 13 occurs without a corresponding rotation of the separate cap cover 2. Relative motion takes place between the plastic cap skirt 13 and the cover 2 since the cover 2 is held tightly against the container rim 22 and a bead 26 thereon with the plastisol or other lining ma terial 7 of the closure cap 1 preventing any initial rotation of the cap cover 2. This protects the package against a loss of vacuum as a result of someone tampering with the closure 1 when he does not turn the cap 1 a sufficient amount :to activate the above described tamper indicating feature.

The pawls 17 are preferably molded as integralporr tions of the cap skirt band 12 with each having an inward slant as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 10. This gives the pawls 17 a resilient action insuring a firm and operative locking engagement between the pawls 17 and the forward edges 18 of the glass container lugs 19 even where the lugs 19 may have a slightly rounded surface or corner such as results during the molding of glass finishes.

The above described pawl 17 construction and the preferred smooth circular transfer bead 21 positioned above the container lugs 19 also facilitate the application of the cap 1 to the container 20 using automatic machines. This prevents a premature and uneven engagement between the cap pawl members 17 and the container lug members 19, such as might occur where the lugs 19 are exposed to the pawl members 17 as the caps l are first applied to the containers. FIG. 5, for example, illustrates the improved cap 1 as it is first lightly dropped or applied from a chute or cap applicator onto the container 1 finish. In this position, the generally circular upper surface of the transfer bead 21 evenly engages the spaced pawl members 17 so that the cap 1 is level on the container 20. Thereafter, as the cap 1 is lightly turned downwardly onto the container 20, the pawls 17 each slide easily and uniformly downwardly I over the smooth transfer bead 21 while the cap threads 9 are turned into engagement with the container threads 25. In the final portion of the sealing operation,

the cap cover 2 is pressed tightly against the bead 26 on the container rim 22 to form a seal as the cap pawls 17 are moved below the transfer bead 21 with the cap. pawls 17 springing inwardly for the above described.

tamper indicating locking action.

The preferred embodiment of the tear-off band 12, as described above, has its top connected to the cap the pull-down tab 15 prevents it from interferingwith the high speed hoppering, feeding, and cap application operations typical of high speed sealing lines so that the cap 1 may be handled in the same manner as closure 1 caps not employing a pull-down tab.

The portion of the cap skirt 13 adjacent to the web 14 is seen to engage the circular transferbead 21 on the container 20 when the container 20 is sealed. This contact continues after the removal of the tear-off band 12 as seen in FIG. 8. It is thus clear that the cap has a high degree of resistance to the penetration of foreign matter, including insects, above the area of the tear-off 1 I band. FIGS. 7 and 8 also illustrate a close positioning of the inner surfaces of the plastic cap skirt and the ad-v jacent finish of the glass container 20 so that there is only a minimal void space between the closure and the, container thereby reducing the possibility of trapped product being present at the cap and container threads.

The separate metal cover 2, of the preferred form described above, provides for a closure cap 1 with high abuse resistance. The retentionof a hermetic orvac-. uum seal during an initial backing-off of the closure cap 1 during possible tampering with a sealed package has already been discussed above. The separate metal cap cover 2 also acts to retain a hermetic seal even though, I

the closure 1 of the sealed package is inadvertently subjected to various forms of abuse, such as where the cap is struck or placed under uneven pressure or storage. I

This result is obtained because the movement of or damage to the plastic outer ring 8 is not transmitted directly to the cover 2 which remains firmly seated on the upwardly directed bead 26 at the container rim 22. with i the plastisol gasket 7 maintaining its seal. The upwardly domed flip panel 4 may be provided in the metal cover 2 for providing the usual vacuum indicator. The flip panel 4 moves downwardly as the result of the vacuum in the head space of the sealed container and pops upwardly with an audible click when the seal is broken.

It will be seen that an improved composite tamperproof closure cap'is provided. The closure is particu larly useful for glass containers and with vacuum sealed packages. A reliable and positive tamper indicating means is provided having a high degree of abuse resistance so that the vacuum seal is protected against package abuse and is not lost without an indicationzof the tampering which caused the vacuum loss. The closure cap also permits automatic dud detection when used for vacuum sealing and includes a flip panel for audible vacuum indication. The improved cap construction resists infiltration and trapped product accumulation. These advantages are provided in an improved composite metal and plastic cap which is readily manufactured by conventional manufacturing means.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An improved sealed tamperproof package comprising the combination of:

a glass container;

said container having closure engaging threads adjacent its rim;

an annular transfer bead extending outwardly from the upper portion of the container below said cap engaging threads and having a smooth surface and being positioned below said container threads for engaging all of the cap pawls as the cap is turned onto the container and prior to any pawl engaging one of said container lugs;

a plurality of spaced pawl engaging lugs positioned on the container immediately adjacent to said smooth surface;

a composite closure cap positioned on said container comprising the combination of:

a plastic ring having an annular cover portion and a depending skirt;

a metal cap cover;

means on the skirt of said plastic ring engaging the outer edge of said cap cover and for permitting relative rotation between the ring and the cover;

container engaging threads formed on the inner surface of said ring;

a tear-off band formed integrally with and extending downwardly from the lower edge of said skirt and being connected thereto by a frangible connection; and

a plurality of lug engaging resilient pawls formed on said band and projecting inwardly thereof for engaging said lugs on the container.

2. The sealed package as claimed in claim 1 in which said lugs on said container include a flat, radially directed, pawl engaging surface for engaging a corresponding flat surface on the container lugs and also include an inwardly slanted surface for permitting the pawls to pass over the lugs during cap application.

3. The sealed package as claimed in claim 1 in which the lower edge of said closure skirt immediately above said tear-off band engages the outermost surface of said transfer bead.

4. An improved vacuum sealed tamperproof package comprising the combination of:

a glass container;

said container having closure engaging threads adjacent its rim;

an annular transfer bead extending outwardly from the upper portion of the container below said cap engaging threads and having a smooth surface;

a plurality of spaced pawl engaging lugs positioned on the container below said transfer bead each having a flat, radially directed pawl engaging surface;

a composite closure cap positioned on said container comprising the combination of:

a plastic ring having an annular cover portion and a depending skirt;

a metal cap cover;

a resilient gasket on said cover;

groove means on the skirt of said plastic ring engaging the outer edge of said cap cover and for permitting relative rotation between the ring and the cover;

the edge of said cover being spaced from the bottom of said groove means;

container engaging threads formed on the inner surface of said ring;

the transfer bead on said container engaging the lower edge of the cap skirt;

a tear-off band extending downwardly from the lower edge of said skirt and being connected thereto by a frangible connection; and

a plurality of elongated lug engaging resilient pawls formed on said band and projecting inwardly thereof and having a flat end surface for engaging said lugs on the container.

5. The sealed package as claimed in claim 4 in which said lug engaging resilient pawls comprise elongated members projecting from said band at an angle thereto and being positioned inwardly of a pawl receiving slot in the band.

6. The sealed package as claimed in claim 4 in which an upwardly facing bead is positioned at the container rim for engaging said gasket. 

1. An improved sealed tamperproof package comprising the combination of: a glass container; said container having closure engaging threads adjacent its rim; an annular transfer bead extending outwardly from the upper portion of the container below said cap engaging threads and having a smooth Surface and being positioned below said container threads for engaging all of the cap pawls as the cap is turned onto the container and prior to any pawl engaging one of said container lugs; a plurality of spaced pawl engaging lugs positioned on the container immediately adjacent to said smooth surface; a composite closure cap positioned on said container comprising the combination of: a plastic ring having an annular cover portion and a depending skirt; a metal cap cover; means on the skirt of said plastic ring engaging the outer edge of said cap cover and for permitting relative rotation between the ring and the cover; container engaging threads formed on the inner surface of said ring; a tear-off band formed integrally with and extending downwardly from the lower edge of said skirt and being connected thereto by a frangible connection; and a plurality of lug engaging resilient pawls formed on said band and projecting inwardly thereof for engaging said lugs on the container.
 2. The sealed package as claimed in claim 1 in which said lugs on said container include a flat, radially directed, pawl engaging surface for engaging a corresponding flat surface on the container lugs and also include an inwardly slanted surface for permitting the pawls to pass over the lugs during cap application.
 3. The sealed package as claimed in claim 1 in which the lower edge of said closure skirt immediately above said tear-off band engages the outermost surface of said transfer bead.
 4. An improved vacuum sealed tamperproof package comprising the combination of: a glass container; said container having closure engaging threads adjacent its rim; an annular transfer bead extending outwardly from the upper portion of the container below said cap engaging threads and having a smooth surface; a plurality of spaced pawl engaging lugs positioned on the container below said transfer bead each having a flat, radially directed pawl engaging surface; a composite closure cap positioned on said container comprising the combination of: a plastic ring having an annular cover portion and a depending skirt; a metal cap cover; a resilient gasket on said cover; groove means on the skirt of said plastic ring engaging the outer edge of said cap cover and for permitting relative rotation between the ring and the cover; the edge of said cover being spaced from the bottom of said groove means; container engaging threads formed on the inner surface of said ring; the transfer bead on said container engaging the lower edge of the cap skirt; a tear-off band extending downwardly from the lower edge of said skirt and being connected thereto by a frangible connection; and a plurality of elongated lug engaging resilient pawls formed on said band and projecting inwardly thereof and having a flat end surface for engaging said lugs on the container.
 5. The sealed package as claimed in claim 4 in which said lug engaging resilient pawls comprise elongated members projecting from said band at an angle thereto and being positioned inwardly of a pawl receiving slot in the band.
 6. The sealed package as claimed in claim 4 in which an upwardly facing bead is positioned at the container rim for engaging said gasket. 